The inaugural EconSM conference, produced by Rafat Ali's ContentNext Media Network (parent of the excellent PaidContent site) is rockin' the Beverly Hilton with entertainment and new media heavies. EconSM addresses the present and potential economy of the social media marketplace in regards to online news, Hollywood, music, mobile media, and more. The amusing "Social Media Meets Hollywood" panel, in which Carson Daly sat alongside The L Word executive producer Ilene Chaiken, preceded lunch. Daly......

LAist is proud to offer a weekly chart roundup of Billboard Magazine’s most coveted rankings. Join us as we revel in the conventional standard of musical success. Let us cross our fingers, hoist our lighters, and dream together of the supreme resurrection of artist-driven recordings that will forever eclipse the dark cloud of big label greed, A&R sleaze and disposable audio. Amen. Here are this week’s chart toppers. Behold the #1s. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Billboard Charts......

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Blood Brothers @ Henry Fonda Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Danity Kane @ Staples Center RZA (pictured) @ Key Club Bob Forrest @ Silverlake Lounge (5:30pm, Happy Hour people!) The Dickies, Agent Orange @ The Knitting Factory Imogen Heap @ The Wiltern American Music Club @ Spaceland Anita Baker @ Gibson The Fray @ The Troubadour Fu Manchu, Open Hand, The Substitutes @ Viper Room......

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Blood Brothers @ Henry Fonda Lucinda Williams @ Royce Hall Imogen Heap @ The Wiltern Joanna Newsom @ El Rey Jesca Hoop @ Temple Bar The Grande Mothers @ House of Blues Melvins, Big Business, Porn, Altamont @ The Troubadour Jill Sobule, Julia Sweeney @ Largo Los Abandoned @ The Echo Zach Brooke @ The Unknown Theater Mute Math, Cute Is What We Aim......

Is anybody driving three hours to the desert for this? Two day passes ($167 + $23 in fees) and Saturday tickets ($86 + $15 in fees) are still available. Most of the rock bands have played LA clubs in the past few months. Otherwise you better really like DJs and house music…… Saturday 4/29 Depeche Mode (about 16 years past their prime), Daft Punk (five years past their prime), Franz Ferdinand (the last album......

Just about everyone around here, except our friendly neighborhood Weekend Editor, made the extra long holiday weekend an excuse to get away from the computer. We'll be back to a regular posting schedule tomorrow but for now - the week that was: - Said Weekend Editor spent Thanksgiving in the ER... - ...but somehow still had time to interview Imogen Heap. - We took a look at the case against match.com and revealed our......

Though most people recognize Imogen Heap from her contribution (via Frou Frou) to the watershed "Garden State" soundtrack, her latest release, "Speak for Yourself" is actually her second solo album, and her third studio album, counting her work with Frou Frou. Her experience and newfound studio savvy shines through on her new CD, which was self-produced and released. In our Q&A, Immi addresses the challenges of writing and producing her own album. She also......

WEDNESDAY • Imogen Heap and Joshua Radin are at the Hotel Cafe tonight at 9 PM. • Enjoy a New Beverly pre-Halloween Jodorowsky/Pasolini double feature of Santa Sangre at 7:45 PM, followed by Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom at 10 PM. Click here for our complete list of events.......